Senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) appeared before the Kerala High Court on Monday in connection with a contempt petition alleging that a party-led protest in Kannur earlier this year had disrupted traffic on the National Highway.
P Jayarajan, M V Jayarajan, E P Jayarajan and K V Sumesh MLA were present before a Bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice S Muralee Krishna. The court directed the leaders to file affidavits detailing their version of events and posted the matter for further hearing once the documents are submitted.
The contempt plea was filed by N Prakash, a resident of Maradu in Ernakulam district. He alleged that the CPI(M) leaders had organised a protest in February near the Kannur Head Post Office, during which a tent was erected as part of the agitation, leading to traffic disruption on the National Highway.
The petitioner argued that the protest violated previous judgments of both the Supreme Court and the High Court that prohibit blocking public roads and highways during demonstrations.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, M V Jayarajan maintained that the gathering was not intended to block traffic. “The court has asked us to give an affidavit. It was not a protest to block traffic. It was a protest against the Centre’s neglect towards the state,” he said, adding that they would appear again if the court issued further summons.
